Google Offers Search Changes to Please EU

by Christopher Freeburn | April 25, 2013 11:54 am

[1]Google (NASDAQ:GOOG[2]) says it will clearly identify its own services and highlight specialized functions from rivals in the way it displays search results in order to settle antitrust complaints from European regulators[3].

The European Commission (EC) has been investigating the search engine giant for three years over concerns it is using its market-dominant position to freeze out rivals, reducing choices for consumers. Rivals, including Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT[4]), will have 30 days to review the proposed changes and provide their response to the EC, Bloomberg noted.

A final settlement of the probe could be completed by the fall.

One analyst noted that the changes offered by Google were essentially cosmetic and did not include an alteration to its underlying search algorithm. A consumer advocacy group in Europe said the changes did not prevent Google for promoting its own services at the expense of rivals.

In January, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission ended a two-year investigation of Google’s search engine practices[5], clearing the company any antitrust violations.